HomeMy WebLinkAbout051120ECMinutesCity of Falcon Heights Environment Commission
Monday, May 11, 2020 6:30 pm Meeting Minutes 1. Call to Order:
Chair Jim Wassenberg called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. 2. Roll Call: Present: Jim Wassenberg, Jordyn Bucholtz, Martin McCleery, Esha Seth, Patrick Mathwig, Nick Olson Also Present: Justin Markon, Staff Liaison and Kay Andrews, City Council Liaison
Absent: Pedro De Filippo Vannucci 3. Approval of Minutes: March 9, 2020 Agenda item 1 requires a change to update the bee keeping topic. Upon completion of revisions, the Commission will approve the minutes at the next meeting.
4. Agenda:
a. Sustainable Actions Fair update i. In lieu of the previously planned Sustainable Actions Fair in Fall, September 12, 2020, the Commission discussed the possibility of hosting a virtual sustainability series. The Commission decided that the series would begin with a lecturer on the topic of native landscaping from either Metro Blooms, Lawns to Legumes, or Capital Region Watershed District in light of the recent native landscaping ordinance that passed. Staff Liaison Justin Markon will be contacting a representative from the City of Shoreview to discuss their partnership with Metro Blooms. The
Commission decided that the pilot session will take place at 3:00pm on a Thursday at the end of June. The intention of the pilot session will be to gauge the level of participation and interest and learn what future topics the audience would like to hear. If the pilot is successful, the Commission will plan to host virtual lectures spread out for a couple weeks at the end of June and middle of July.
b. Review 2020 work plan i. The Commission reviewed current progress on the 2020 work plan and concluded that the January events are complete, and discussed the success of the composting program. Completion of February events were reviewed. The February environment corner (EC) on the topic of ice melting was not completed, but the Home Energy Squad was completed. The March EC on workplace recycling was not completed, and it was discussed that this topic could shift to the environmental benefits of working from home, environmental benefits of telework, and marginalized communities affected by pandemic and, similarly, climate change. The April Environment Commission Conference was held online and attended
by Commissioner Mathwig. The April EC on native landscaping is in works and will be published in May or June. For May, Commissioner McCleery will write an EC on the topic of rainfall and stormwater. For June, Commissioner Seth will write an EC piece on bicycling. The June 6
cleanup will be canceled. The Commission decided that instead of the sustainability fair, a sustainability speaker series will take place in June.
The scheduled EC corner pieces are still going as planned. 5. News and Announcements: a. Staff Liaison Justin Markon gave updates on the quarterly reports from CEE. He stated that during the first quarter 5 people participated and received a $50 discount, leaving $2,250 from the $2,500 budget. b. Commissier McCleery gave updates on an estimated price to conduct aerial thermal photography for Falcon Heights and surrounding cities. The price is estimated to be $35,000. 6. Adjourn:
a. Meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m.